The Last Drive in & Sisters

[cfr1970]

I liked both these episodes. BTW I timed "Sisters" and it clocked in at 19 minutes total. It did have a feeling of scenes being cut making the story feel rushed. I now want to see the unedited episode for that because it was a good one.

"The Last Drive In" was a lot of fun. The best was Blair fighting the bully and unwittingly knocking her out.

Tootie is a huge Bette Davis fan, thinks "Baby Jane" is her best film, wants to be an actress herself...and has never seen the film? I can't believe it. Surely she would've rented it by now!

Boy that drive in sure was crowded for Natalie got almost 400 signatures!

Did they say that was Mrs. G's beetle that was stolen?! Did they ever find it?! Was Mrs. G pissed when she got home?! It left me hanging!!

"Sisters" was good too and I was hoping the parents would have gotten serious with each other. I don't know why the writers backed off at the last minute. Why not have Blair & Jo become step-sisters? I think it's nice to know they'd be connected forever like that!!

As I said earlier, the editing made that episode feel rushed. There's surely a scene that was snipped for the endless Antenna TV Medicare commercials!

My favorite line was Monica about her mink: "It's not to wear. It's to carry!" She's definitely Blair's mother!!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Tootie is a huge Bette Davis fan, thinks "Baby Jane" is her best film, wants to be an actress herself...and has never seen the film? I can't believe it. Surely she would've rented it by now!

Yeah, that was odd. Why not just say something like she's seen it several times?

"Sisters" was good too and I was hoping the parents would have gotten serious with each other. I don't know why the writers backed off at the last minute. Why not have Blair & Jo become step-sisters? I think it's nice to know they'd be connected forever like that!!

It would have been very cool, IMO, too, but by this era, the show wasn't about changing the dynamics. Having Blair and Jo become sisters would have meant that Jo would have suddenly come into a lot of money, her father marrying into money.

Well, that would have changed the premise of the show completely. We could have had entire episodes where Jo is confronted with the fact that her family now has money.

I remember when Cheers was nearing the end of its run. The producers wanted to have Sam and Diane marry, at the end. NBC didn't want that to happen because they felt it would have changed the dynamic of the series, and somehow harmed sales in syndication.

My favorite line was Monica about her mink: "It's not to wear. It's to carry!" She's definitely Blair's mother!!

YEP!

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

I liked both these episodes. BTW I timed "Sisters" and it clocked in at 19 minutes total. It did have a feeling of scenes being cut making the story feel rushed. I now want to see the unedited episode for that because it was a good one.

So runtimes have gone down in syndication since the USA / N@N days. Both The Last Drive In and Sisters are 24 minutes and 49 seconds on the DVD release.

Originally Posted by cfr1970

"The Last Drive In" was a lot of fun. The best was Blair fighting the bully and unwittingly knocking her out.

Tootie is a huge Bette Davis fan, thinks "Baby Jane" is her best film, wants to be an actress herself...and has never seen the film? I can't believe it. Surely she would've rented it by now!

Boy that drive in sure was crowded for Natalie got almost 400 signatures!

Did they say that was Mrs. G's beetle that was stolen?! Did they ever find it?! Was Mrs. G pissed when she got home?! It left me hanging!!

The police found the beetle. Only damage was to the windshield wipers as they were in the glove compartment.

I love that Blair scene where she finds out she knocked her out she starts acting all tough with a popcorn bucket on her head

Originally Posted by cfr1970

My favorite line was Monica about her mink: "It's not to wear. It's to carry!" She's definitely Blair's mother!!

My favorite Monica line is at the beginning. She asks Jo what can she do to help and Jo says right now tarts. Monica says, "I'm on my way. How many should I buy?"

I'm glad you like the episodes. They're two of my favorites.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

BTW I timed "Sisters" and it clocked in at 19 minutes total

Okay "Mr. Bradley"! (you'll see why down the road, lol)

Originally Posted by cfr1970

"The Last Drive In" was a lot of fun. The best was Blair fighting the bully and unwittingly knocking her out.

The straws! THE STRAWS!!

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Tootie is a huge Bette Davis fan, thinks "Baby Jane" is her best film, wants to be an actress herself...and has never seen the film? I can't believe it. Surely she would've rented it by now!

Hmm, maybe videostores hadn't hit Peekskill yet?

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Boy that drive in sure was crowded for Natalie got almost 400 signatures!

Haha! And so sweet about the pizza clock. Now if only they'd had her put it up in her room after this episode!

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Did they say that was Mrs. G's beetle that was stolen?! Did they ever find it?! Was Mrs. G pissed when she got home?! It left me hanging!!

I don't even remember!

Originally Posted by cfr1970

"Sisters" was good too

Maybe, but I feel it's a few seasons too late. I think this story would have been much more effective in season 2 or 3, back when Blair and Jo really had more major stumbling blocks with each other and would have HAAAAATED the prospect of being sisters, lol. This late in the series, when they know each other so well and have a solid root of long-standing friendship, it just doesn't feel the same to me.

Originally Posted by cfr1970

My favorite line was Monica about her mink: "It's not to wear. It's to carry!" She's definitely Blair's mother!!

I love how "Blair's mom" she is!

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yeah, that was odd. Why not just say something like she's seen it several times?

Had she said that instead I wouldn't have felt bad for her missing all those big chunks of the film at the concession stand complaining how she's standing at the concession stand and missing the film.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

It would have been very cool, IMO, too, but by this era, the show wasn't about changing the dynamics. Having Blair and Jo become sisters would have meant that Jo would have suddenly come into a lot of money, her father marrying into money.

Well, that would have changed the premise of the show completely. We could have had entire episodes where Jo is confronted with the fact that her family now has money.

I don't think it would've changed the dynamics all that much. Jo was 20 by then wasn't she? An adult so the money wouldn't affect her all that much. She was on her own pretty much at that point and not being supported by anyone anymore.
I think she'd have very minimal attachment to the money. Her father would be basking in it, but I think Jo wouldn't have really changed at all from the marriage.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by Christopher

So runtimes have gone down in syndication since the USA / N@N days. Both The Last Drive In and Sisters are 24 minutes and 49 seconds on the DVD release.

Almost 6 MINUTES of scenes! Holy crap! I wonder what they were now? Did we see them go out to dinner with the parents in "Sisters"? I want those dvd's now more than ever. It will probably look like a whole new show.

Originally Posted by Christopher

The police found the beetle. Only damage was to the windshield wipers as they were in the glove compartment.

That scene was definitely cut!

Originally Posted by Christopher

I love that Blair scene where she finds out she knocked her out she starts acting all tough with a popcorn bucket on her head

She was funny in this scene! Originally I was thinking, just get Jo to pop her in the mouth, but having Blair deal with it on her own was much funnier!

Originally Posted by Christopher

My favorite Monica line is at the beginning. She asks Jo what can she do to help and Jo says right now tarts. Monica says, "I'm on my way. How many should I buy?"

I'm glad you like the episodes. They're two of my favorites.

Yes, both were so good, I hardly even noticed the absence of Mrs. G. That right there is a good sign!

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Okay "Mr. Bradley"! (you'll see why down the road, lol)

I don't get it.

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

The straws! THE STRAWS!!

It was visually funny, but made Blair look like a real ditz! Just what the hell was she trying to accomplish doing that?!

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Hmm, maybe videostores hadn't hit Peekskill yet?

By 1985 they were ALL over the place. OMG they were popping up like mushrooms everywhere. It wasn't until the early 90's when EVIL Blockbuster came along and swallowed up all those neat little mom & pop video stores.

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

! And so sweet about the pizza clock. Now if only they'd had her put it up in her room after this episode!

That would've been cool. But of course we never see that clock again. She probably dumped it in the trash on her way out of the drive in.

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Maybe, but I feel it's a few seasons too late. I think this story would have been much more effective in season 2 or 3, back when Blair and Jo really had more major stumbling blocks with each other and would have HAAAAATED the prospect of being sisters, lol. This late in the series, when they know each other so well and have a solid root of long-standing friendship, it just doesn't feel the same to me.

That would have been a cool background story to have running throughout the series. And towards the end of the run, we see them marry. I would've loved that.

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I love how "Blair's mom" she is!

Do we see her a lot throughout the series? I like her.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Almost 6 MINUTES of scenes! Holy crap! I wonder what they were now? Did we see them go out to dinner with the parents in "Sisters"? I want those dvd's now more than ever. It will probably look like a whole new show.

It will. I know "Mama's Family" like the back of my hand (even more than this show) and when the MF box set came out 7 years ago, I was stunned by how it felt like a new show. There I was, watching those original NBC episodes, and at times ENTIRE TWO-MINUTE SCENES that had been on the cutting room floor for 30 years were suddenly "sewn" back in. It made it seem more like a production divided into definite "acts" that way. And then still other snippets and half-minutes here and there throughout the rest of those episodes as well, on top of those 2-minute scenes.

TGFDVD! lol

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

I don't get it.

You're not supposed to! Wait until you watch season 1. (NO SPOILERS fellow posters, please! )

Originally Posted by cfr1970

It was visually funny, but made Blair look like a real ditz! Just what the hell was she trying to accomplish doing that?!

I don't know and I don't care, it's one of the funniest moments in the entire series!

Originally Posted by cfr1970

That would've been cool. But of course we never see that clock again. She probably dumped it in the trash on her way out of the drive in.

There you go with your Edna's Edibles glass half empty!

Originally Posted by cfr1970

That would have been a cool background story to have running throughout the series. And towards the end of the run, we see them marry. I would've loved that.

BLAIR AND JO?!?

I thought you were talking about them until I read that last part!

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Do we see her a lot throughout the series? I like her.

I do too; she's so glamorous and likable! You don't see her "a lot", but compared to some of the other parents, you do get to see her more than most, considering. I believe we see Charlie the most, and then Monica.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

It will. I know "Mama's Family" like the back of my hand (even more than this show) and when the MF box set came out 7 years ago, I was stunned by how it felt like a new show. There I was, watching those original NBC episodes, and at times ENTIRE TWO-MINUTE SCENES that had been on the cutting room floor for 30 years were suddenly "sewn" back in. It made it seem more like a production divided into definite "acts" that way. And then still other snippets and half-minutes here and there throughout the rest of those episodes as well, on top of those 2-minute scenes.

TGFDVD! lol

The damn set is up to $100 bucks on Amazon now so it's gonna be a while before I get the uncut episodes. They're price gouging for sure knowing people want comfort television in these times! Shame on them!

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

BLAIR AND JO?!?

I thought you were talking about them until I read that last part!

Of course not! It was obvious I was talking about the parents marrying since that was the subject of the episode. How on earth could you have thought I was talking about Blair & Jo marrying! OMG.

That would never have worked out anyway.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

The damn set is up to $100 bucks on Amazon now so it's gonna be a while before I get the uncut episodes. They're price gouging for sure knowing people want comfort television in these times! Shame on them!

Wait, which show? FOL? You don't have to get the box set, you can get the separate ones. But I understand if you wanna wait.

In local news, I GET TO GO OUTSIDE TONIGHT!! I've been holed up for nearly THREE DAYS 'cause it hasn't been quiiiiiiite warm enough to get out yet. But tonight FINALLY it's around 70, and I can get out to my favorite local nature preserve for a sunset walk and nature photo shoot!

I just remembered though I need to shave first in case I see any other humans---I haven't shaved in days!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Of course not! It was obvious I was talking about the parents marrying since that was the subject of the episode. How on earth could you have thought I was talking about Blair & Jo marrying! OMG.

That would never have worked out anyway.

Work with me here, cfr!

You said:

"That would have been a cool background story to have running throughout the series"

And that was after I had talked about how I would have preferred it earlier in the series for the Blair/Jo reasons I mentioned, so when you said that "That would have been a cool background story to have running throughout the series", I thought you were still talking about Blair and Jo---a background story of, 'will they become family'?

That's how I came to read your marriage comment wrong. (of course then I realized you were NOT talking about Blair/Jo!)

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Work with me here, cfr!

You said:

"That would have been a cool background story to have running throughout the series"

And that was after I had talked about how I would have preferred it earlier in the series for the Blair/Jo reasons I mentioned, so when you said that "That would have been a cool background story to have running throughout the series", I thought you were still talking about Blair and Jo---a background story of, 'will they become family'?

That's how I came to read your marriage comment wrong. (of course then I realized you were NOT talking about Blair/Jo!)

I went back to have a look and I still see it was pretty obvious I was talking about their parents! Having them date from season 2 on as a running background story. You actually thought I meant having Jo & Blair date as a running background story? OMG!

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Almost 6 MINUTES of scenes! Holy crap! I wonder what they were now? Did we see them go out to dinner with the parents in "Sisters"? I want those dvd's now more than ever. It will probably look like a whole new show.

That scene was definitely cut!

She was funny in this scene! Originally I was thinking, just get Jo to pop her in the mouth, but having Blair deal with it on her own was much funnier!

Yes, both were so good, I hardly even noticed the absence of Mrs. G. That right there is a good sign!

It is like a whole new show with the deleted scenes. That's why I don't think old shows should be in syndication anymore. In their original broadcast they were up to 25 minutes or longer. A lot of Maude's episodes run over 26 minutes. How is 19 minutes out of a 26 minute show going to make sense when watching? If syndication can't allow more time to be shown of an episode for viewers to get sense of what they're watching, then they need to air something else. Season 3 of The Facts of Life is over 25 minutes. That is over 6 minutes being cut that season in syndication. And season 3 is a fan favorite.